Iowa
Old Press
Hamilton Freeman
Webster City, Hamilton Co., Iowa
February 4, 1874
p.1
Mrs. Ramsdell, of Davenport, Iowa, left her little babe asleep in
bed the other evening, while she stepped out to gossip with a
neighbor. Returning in half an hour, she discovered about half a
dozen large rats in the act of eating the child. On her entering
the room they ran into a hole which led to the cellar. The child
was literally covered with blood. The rats had gnawed the head in
many places, eaten part of the ears and nose, the outer corner of
the eyes, and nibbled at the fingers. Medical aid was called and
the wounds dressed. It was pronounced out of danger, but will
probably be disfigured for life.
[transcribed by J.M., November 2014]